by J. N. Colon
“But before we go…”
My heart hiccupped, ramming into my ribcage painfully.
“Let’s take this off.” He tugged my Lone Star Burger Shack hoodie over my head, leaving me in a thin black tank top. “Much better. Someone who has a body as sexy as you shouldn’t hide it.”
I clutched my arms against my chest. “Won’t I get cold?” I blurted.
“I’ll keep you warm.” His head cocked to the side, brow furrowing. “Why is your heart beating so fast? You should be calm like I said.”
I plastered a dreamy, dopey look on my face and smiled like an idiot. “I’m excited about the party.”
“Good. Let’s go.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me into the hall.
Oh shit. What had I gotten myself into?
The chilly night air brushed against my arms and seeped into my jeans until I was shivering so much I was relieved when Brant wrapped his arm around me. Thankfully the weird crawling sensation dissipated into a low buzz in the background.
After several minutes of walking through trees and misty fog we ended up in the same area they kept disappearing from, my heart actually jumping with anticipation. I was finally going to find out exactly what the popular kids were up to.
Then I remembered Patrick and how crazy he acted the other night. Did I really want to chance something like that happening to me?
As we passed into the shadows and approached an exterior stone wall I realized I didn’t really have much of a choice. Brant laid a hand on the wall and a click echoed as if something unlocked. The seemingly solid wall pushed open, revealing a narrow stone staircase.
A gasp escaped my mouth.
Brant glanced back and nodded. “Pretty cool huh?”
“Yep.”
And then we descended the stairs.
I was expecting dark and dankness, cobwebs and creepy crawlers. Not this.
We walked into a large room lit by hundreds of white candles and a fire blazing in a giant marble fireplace. Celtic symbols and knot work were carved into the mantle above the fireplace and along the edges, shooting shivers down my spine. A row of small mahogany cabinets with old fashioned gold locks barring their contents from view ran along a white wall. They were probably stocked with witchy spell ingredients like sage and eye of newt. That same ancient leather bound book I’d seen them carry was laid on top. It was probably their spell book.
Before I could get the chance to take a peek Brant gripped my hand and pulled me deeper into the massive stone room.
White diaphanous drapes sectioned off parts, hiding couples talking and making out on plush couches—or at least that was what they appeared to be doing. Haunting melodic music pulsed like a heartbeat and a spicy fragrance drifted throughout.
The mood was very heady.
The party was kind of like the inside of a swanky club—one that was owned by gothic revivalists. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, but after further inspection about half the people looked dazed or maybe hypnotized. Nothing too weird appeared to be happening so why would you have to hypnotize people?
“Come on,” Brant said, pulling me toward an intricately carved white marble table. “You want something to drink?”
The table was lined with crystal goblets overflowing with red wine, making me realize how parched my throat was. “Sure.” I reached for one with exceptionally dark, briny smelling wine thicker and richer than some of the others.
“Oh not that one.” Brant snatched the glass from my hand so fast the motion was a blur. “You wouldn’t like it.” A knowing smile twisted his lips as he handed me a lighter one. “This kind is for you.”
My brow arched as he looked away, surprised Brant was a wine connoisseur. I had him pegged for one of those people who’d drink anything to catch a buzz—pretty much any teenager.
I surveyed the room while I drank, spying several familiar faces. Tatum was perched on Patrick’s lap in a dark corner, whispering in his ear. He had that dreamy look so many others in the room did, but whatever she was saying was creating an eager, hungry gleam in his eyes.
A grimace twitched at my face, hoping I didn’t find him stumbling around looking for her again.
“Thirsty much Rubi?” Surprise lingered in Brant’s expression as he peered at me.
I glanced down and sure enough I’d gulped the entire glass of wine. If I didn’t watch it I wouldn’t need to pretend to be dazed and hypnotized. I’d be drunk. “I was thirsty,” I breathed, licking the remnants of wine from my lips.
He wiggled his blonde eyebrows. “Now that’s my kind of girl,” he crooned, pulling me closer.
Awesome. I was making him like me even more.
“Brant, man, what’s up?” Tristan—the hot senior—appeared at the table, towing a wide-eyed Sutton.
“Sup, man.”
“Hi Rubi.” Sutton’s voice held a wistful note while a sleepy smile stretched across her delicate face. “Isn’t this party great?”
“Yeah.” I drew the word out to match her dazed tone.
“I didn’t expect to see you here with Brant,” she giggled, sloshing her wine.
She wasn’t the only one.
“Yeah man. What’s up with bringing Rubi?” Tristan asked, running a hand across his pale blonde spikes.
Why was everyone calling me Rubi instead of Rubiks tonight?
Brant shrugged. “I dunno. Spur of the moment decision.” His smile was suddenly unnerving again, promising nothing good. “I thought I’d try something new.”
Tristan’s hawk eyes grazed over me, turning my skin hot. People said my eyes were gold, but his were liquid gold and totally burning me. “The thought’s tempting.” He slowly licked his lips. “But she isn’t exactly… and Mac said…”
“Who cares what Mac said,” Brant scoffed.
My heart jumped at the mention of his name and I prayed Brant didn’t notice.
“He’s not the boss of me.” Brant threw an arm across my shoulders, pulling me tightly against him. “Not yet anyways.”
I gritted my teeth against the urge to wriggle away. And what did he mean Mac wasn’t the boss of him yet?
Tristan shook his head. “This won’t end well.”
Brant’s laughter was deep and chilling as he peeked down at me. “Let’s go see how this ends Rubi.”
Unease twisted my stomach, but I kept the stupid smile plastered on my face, hoping Brant didn’t notice how tight it was.
This was bad—really bad.
Brant pulled me to a champagne colored suede couch, loosening the sheer curtain to shade us from the crowd.
Oh man. Did he really bring me here to make out with me?
It was impossible to prevent my heart from rattling against my ribcage as he sat next to me, drawing me close.
“Don’t be nervous.” His voice was slow and melodic, that crawling feeling growing again. “It’ll be fun.”
I doubted that, but I smiled anyways, struggling to find a way out of this unfortunate and freakish situation. The cold, terrifying grip of panic squeezed my chest and I wouldn’t be able to remain calm much longer. Brant was going to figure it out.
His hooded hazel eyes brightened as he brushed my hair behind my shoulder, letting his fingers graze across my bare skin. I shivered and Brant took it as excitement on my part, broadening the smile on his face. He leaned closer, sniffing my throat.
Okay—that was weird.
“Mmm Rubi. You smell absolutely amazing. I should have done this your first day.” His lips trailed a line from my jaw to the base of my neck, his breath hot against my skin. His fingers slid up the other side of my neck, tangling in my hair.
Tremors ran the length of my body, hemorrhaging fear into my quivering veins. My gaze roamed around, searching for a way out of this mess when I unexpectedly encountered a pair of dark jade eyes across the room and even through the sheer curtain we recognized each other. Mac.
Not even a second ticked by before he realized who I was with and what was happening even
though I had no idea. And in that very instant rage like I’d never witnessed before exploded across his face.
He crossed the room within the blink of an eye and ripped the curtain open. “What the hell is she doing here?” He snatched Brant up with astonishing force.
Chapter 12
I gasped and jumped off the couch, stumbling back.
Brant pushed him off. “What the hell does it look like?”
“Get her out of here.”
Brant’s golden eyebrows met in defiance. “No. What’s the big deal anyways?”
“She isn’t one of them,” Mac growled. “She doesn’t belong here.”
Pain resonated in my chest and I bit my lip to keep from crying. This whole situation was weird and beyond scary and I should have been thanking Mac, but his words were like daggers in my heart. What was wrong with me? Was I not good enough to be here?
Brant’s eyes narrowed. “You can’t tell me what to do.”
“The hell I can’t.” Mac unexpectedly pushed Brant so hard he stumbled several feet back.
My heart pulverized the inside of my ribcage at the side of Mac I’d never seen before. His jade eyes were hard as the stone I compared them to while a strange darkness shadowed his face. “Take her back.” His voice was deep and low, resembling a growl more than anything.
Tension wove its way through the room and everyone who wasn’t sporting a dazed expressions was now staring at the three of us with keen, piercing eyes.
Brant’s lips were thinning and pulling back as he stalked toward Mac.
A delicate pale hand unexpectedly shot out and pressed against Brant’s chest. “Stop it.” Emmaline stood between the two boys, her rail-thin shape surprisingly commanding. “You’re ruining the party.”
Brant clenched his jaw and glared at Mac. “He started it.”
Emmaline rolled her eyes. “Grow up.”
“Now make her go back,” Mac growled.
The two of them hadn’t even looked at me since the confrontation began as if I wasn’t even there. According to them I wasn’t present in my head—at least that was what they thought. I was spelled or hypnotized and apparently wouldn’t remember this.
Brant stepped toward me until Mac shook his head. “Forget it. I’ll do it.” Mac grabbed my shoulders, staring into my face close for the first time tonight. It didn’t even take a millisecond for those jade eyes to widen in realization.
He knew—without a doubt—I wasn’t under Brant’s control.
My mouth dried up and filled with sawdust while my knees trembled in fear. What would he do?
His hands tightened on my shoulders and a blank expression quickly slipped over his face, hiding the shock. Brant hadn’t noticed this entire time, but Mac took one look at me and knew.
“I’ll just take her back.” He turned to Brant and Emmaline. “I need some fresh air anyways.”
“Whatever.” Brant stalked away then peered over his shoulder with a malicious smile. “I’ll just keep Paisley company.”
Mac ignored him and took my hand, drawing me toward the stairs.
The cold air stung my bare arms when we stepped outside into the autumn night. Mac hadn’t said a word and I wasn’t sure I wanted him to. He was gripping my hand so tight and we were walking so fast I was certain he was pissed.
When we were a good distance from the building he halted and backed me up against a tree so fast I was breathless. Panic shot through my veins as he loomed over me, his massive form blotting out everything else in my vision.
He caged my face between his big hands, his jade eyes turning liquid. “Listen Rubi.” His voice was suddenly like warm honey. “I want you to forget everything you just saw…”
That crawling feeling exploded over my skin as he spoke only this time it was so intense my teeth chattered.
“You’ve been in your room all night. Your favorite movie was on television, Blue Lagoon, and you ate that spicy beef jerky…”
How did he know that was my favorite movie and how did he know I kept beef jerky in my room…?
“And you’re going to go to sleep now and forget…”
I mashed my teeth, to stop the scream from ripping out of my mouth. It felt like prickly bugs were crawling all over me, their sticky legs poking my skin as they tried to burrow beneath the surface. The hairs on the back of my neck were standing on end and muscles shook with the strain it took to keep the farce in place.
Only it quickly became too much. Mac’s mojo made Brant’s seem like a weak, watered down version.
I simply couldn’t bare it any longer.
Without thinking about the consequences I shoved Mac in the chest—he didn’t budge though. “Stop doing that!”
Mac instantly froze, deep lines crossing his forehead. “You can feel that?”
“Yes,” I hissed, my chest heaving and breaths ragged from exertion. I was terrified and yet unable to withstand any more of the mind game or whatever he was trying to do to me.
“You were never under Brant’s influence?”
I shook my head, shivering under Mac’s hands.
Shock resonated across his handsome face and his mouth dropped. “That’s impossible.”
I shrugged. Clearly it was possible.
He let his hands fall and looked past me, his gaze turning pensive. “This is bad,” he mumbled. “If anyone else would have noticed…” He turned back to me, confusion clouding his eyes. “Wait. If Brant’s compulsion didn’t work why did you go with him?”
“I didn’t know what else to do,” I blurted. “I was afraid of what he would do if he knew it didn’t work on me.” My voice shook and I felt an embarrassing hint of hysteria creeping up. Now that I was away from the party and the enticing aroma, pulsating music, and warm candles I was realizing how much danger I had been in. I remembered Mac going tense when I mentioned Brant the other night in the attic. What if he was seriously dangerous? What if he had something to do with Alyssa’s death?
“Rubi, just breathe,” Mac said, backing up to give me space.
“I’m not exactly used to the idea of someone controlling people like that,” I continued without missing a beat. “I mean what else can he do? What else can you do?” And there it was, panic racing toward the surface.
Mac’s forehead creased in concern, but was it for me or for their secret?
I wrapped my arms around my chest, clutching them so tight I might bruise. “What the hell is going on? How can you do that? And why are you doing it?”
Mac didn’t answer and I watched fear pooling in his green eyes.
I couldn’t bring myself to ask that one pertinent question, the one I really wanted to know. Are you witches? Just the thought of it was ridiculous. The entire concept was laughable until you pieced together all the strange occurrences at Highland. And then it became terrifying. But saying the words, putting it in the open, would make it too real to bare.
As if reading the hesitation in my mind Mac’s muscles loosened and his eyes flickered down to my bare arms and shivering body. “You must be freezing.”
Duh Sherlock.
Mac yanked his black cashmere sweater off, leaving him only in a black t-shirt that showed his muscled form beneath. He pulled the sweater over my head before I could protest, draping me in his leftover warmth and wild forest scent that made my knees want to give out for a whole other reason than fear. Everything was made sweeter when Mac stepped close again and rubbed his hands over my arms to chase away the chill.
But then I remembered how he had treated me for the past few weeks and the things he’d said only minutes ago in front of his friends. “Why am I not good enough to be at that party?” My voice was barely a whisper and I felt hot, embarrassing tears stinging my eyes.
“What?” Mac blinked, uncomprehending.
“You said I didn’t belong.” I swallowed the lump in my throat and continued through the humiliation. “And you lied about the book and acted like we’ve never even talked.”
Mac’s fac
e dropped, regret glistening in his gaze. “You don’t belong there, especially not with Brant.” His lip curled in contempt before settling back to a grim line. “And I’m sorry about ignoring you. It’s just… I just… I didn’t want you to get hurt or…” He ran a hand through his black hair, mussing it up.
“Is it because I’m not pretty enough?” Oh man. How much more mortifying was this going to get?
His head snapped back, shock morphing his expression. “Not pretty enough?” Mac stared at me, his heavily lashed eyes suddenly smoldering like two jade fires. He unexpectedly ran a finger across my cheek, ending at my one lone dimple. “You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”
My cheeks burned red and the cold shivers ceased as if they’d never begun. My stomach quivered and my entire body craved more of his touch.
“You’re different; not at all like them.” His voice was now a deep, husky whisper that sent electric currents through my belly.
I was stuck in the middle of some seriously supernatural poo involving the richest kids at Highland Academy and it was clearly dangerous. I should have been terrified. I should have been running for my life, but Mac’s presence did crazy things to me. It made me want to stay near him no matter the consequences.
His warm breath danced across my face, making my lips tingle with longing. Desire coiled through me and by the way he leaned even closer as if pulled by an invisible force told me he was feeling it too. It wouldn’t take much to pull him toward me until our bodies met.
Mac realized how electric the air around us had gotten and dropped his hand, shaking his head like shaking his mind from a haze.
My heart sank all the way to my feet.
“Rubi, I know you don’t understand what’s going on, but it’s better if you don’t.”
I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms against my chest with a huff. “You’re not going to tell me anything, are you?” Just because I couldn’t ask didn’t mean he couldn’t tell.
“Trust me. It’s better this way. You’ll be safe.”
Fear clutched my chest and I forced myself to ask a very dangerous question, one I wasn’t sure I was ready to know. “Does this have anything to do with Alyssa’s death?”